Doorframe



Sept. 15, 1953 L. L. LESTER, JR

DOORF'RAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed y 22, 1952 .INVENTOR Laman .L. Lesfer Jr ATTORNEYS Sept. 15, 1953 L. L. LESTER, JR

DOORFRAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 22, 1952 him m 1. Am 4 W, I"? 6 0,0

INVENTOR Lanfsmz L. Lesfir fit ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 15, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in door frames of the type in which the door jamb is formed in two longitudinal sections each having facings secured thereto and adapted to be applied to the wall opening from opposite sides thereof so that the door frame can be constructed at the mill and applied to the door opening Without any alteration of the same.

Objects of the invention are to provide an improved door frame of the general type referred to; and to provide improved means for connecting the door jam b sections together when placed in position in the wall opening whereby the same will be securely connected and reinforced at the points of connection to the ends that a strong, rigid, serviceable door frame unit is afforded and provision being made for the ready adjustment of the jamb sections toward and from each other so that the door frame can be readily applied to walls of varying thickness.

A particularly important novel characteristic of the invention resides in the special means provided for connecting the jamb sections to- 'gether that includes the forming of each jamb section with a longitudinal groove in the inner edge face thereof, and vertical side and horizontal top strip members or pieces disposed between the jamb sections and each provided with a longitudinal groove in each side edge face thereof to cooperate with the grooves in the inner edge I face portions of the jamb sections, the relative arrangement of the grooved side edge portions of the intermediate connecting strip members or pieces and the grooved inner side edge faces of the jamb sections being such as to provide a double tongue and groove connection between each of the intermediate connecting strip members or pieces and the two jamb sections, and including longitudinally extending marginal portions of the intermediate connecting strip members or pieces overlying portions of side faces of each of the jamb sections and forming at one side of the intermediate connecting strips or pieces a door stop.

The invention, with other objects and advantages thereof, and the particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts comprising the same, will be understood from the following detail description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof and illustrating one embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an exploded inner perspective view of two sections of door frame constructed in ac cordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the door frame;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of the complete door frame unit, taken on line 3-3 of Fig 2; and

Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the top of the frame.

Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective detail view of a pair of the wedge members.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings, it will be, of course, understood that minor changes and modifications may be made in the particular construction shown and the invention may be embodied in other forms as will appeal to those skilled in the art and falling within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings, Figs. 3, 4 and 5, 8 designates the studding of the wall opening, 9 the lathing and II] the plaster. The particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, includes a door jamb formed in two longitudinal sections designated generally II and I2 and each comprising vertical side strips and a transverse top strip, the strips of the two jamb sections being designated, respectively, l3, I4 and I5, I6, all of said strips being rectangular shaped in cross section and the top strip of each of the jamb sections being disposed between the upper end portions of the side strips thereof and secured thereto by nails I I or equivalent fastening members. To each of the jamb sections II and I2 are secured by nails I2 or the like side and top facings I8 and I9, the latter being shown secured at its ends to the upper ends of the side facings I8 by fastening members 20 of well known sleeve-like form that have a sharpened end and are pressed into abutting marginal portions of the facings at the miter joints between the same.

As will be understood, the longitudinal jamb sections I I and I2 are constructed at the mill and adapted to be applied to the previously formed wall opening from opposite sides thereof. In accordance with the present invention, means for connecting the assembled jamb sections together is provided that includes intermediate vertical side and top strip members or pieces 2|, 22 of general rectangular shape in cross section and each provided with longitudinal grooves 23, 24 in the side edge faces thereof, the side walls of the grooves 23, 24 forming pairs of laterally spaced tongues 32, 28 and 33, 21. The strip members I3, I4, I5 and I6 of the two jamb sections I I and I2 are each provided in its inner side edge face with longitudinal grooves designated respectively 25, 25, the side walls of these grooves forming pairs of laterally spaced tongues 35, 30 and 3|, 3I adapted to interfit with the pairs of tongues 32, 28 and 33, 21 on the side edges of the intermediate vertical side and top strip members 2| and 22, the latter being disposed lengthwise between the side and top strips I3, I I, I5 and I5 respectively of the jamb sections II and I2, as

shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of drawings, the length:

of the intermediate top strip 22 corresponding to the length of each of the top strips I4, I6 of the jamb sections II and I2, the intermediate side strips 2! each terminating at its upper end adjacent the plane of that face of the intermediate top strip 22 that will be farthest from the wall of the opening in the wall. As shown in these views, the tongues 21 and 28 of the intermediate strip members 2i, 22 that will be nearest the wallof the opening in the wall when the door frame is ap-pliedtoan opening in a wall, fit'intc grooves 25, 2 5 of the strips l3, HI, I5 and it of the jamb sections II and I2, the tongues 32, 33 of the intermediate stripmembers 2 I, 22 that will be farthestfrom'the wall'of the opening in the wall, fitting over the tongues 30, SI of the jamb sections II and I2. It will be notedthat by this particular construction a double tongue and groove connection is'provid'ed between the intermediate connecting'strip, members 2! and 22 and the strips I3,.I I, and I5, I5 of the two jamb sections II and. i2, and that the tongues 32 of the groove. 24 of the intermediate connecting strip members 2| andi'22 forms a door stop.

The intermediate connecting strip, members 2 i. 22 are secured to thejambsection II'by nails M 01- like fastening members so that in applying the jamb sections to the-wall opening, the intermediate connecting members .ZI, 22. are entered into the wallopening at one-:sidethereofnvith the jamb section I I. The grooves 23 in one edge of the intermediate connecting strip members 2'I, 22 and the cooperatnggrooves 26 in the strips I5; I6 of the jamb section-I2 are of a depth to permit considerable adjustment of the jamb sections toward and from each other and thereby vary the width of' the jamb to accommodate walls of varying thickness.

When the jamb sections Ii and I2 have been assembled in the wall opening and properly adjusted'for wall thickness, the strip members I5, I6 of the jamb section 52- are secured to the intermediate connecting strip members 2| by nails 35. The grooves 24in the intermediate connectng strip members 2!; 22 and the grooves 25 in the strip members I3, I4, of the jamb section I I are of sumcient depth to permit adjustment of the intermediate connecting'strip members toward and from the strips I3, I4 of the jamb section II in the connection of the intermediate connecting strip members 2i, 22 thereto in the fabrication of the sections at the mill to allow for variation in the thickness of doors to be hung on the jamb section II and the nice location of the side edge of the inner side wall 32 of the groove 24 that forms the door stop, the outer side wallof the groove 23 being shown of less thickness than the thickness. of the inner side wall 32.

In accordance with the invention, the jamb sections I I and I2 are fabricated at the mill with a door L hung by hinges 38 on the jamb section II and all hardware equipmentin place on the door and jamb section so that a complete door frame and door can be rapidly installed.

For holding the door frame in position relative to the studding 8 of the door opening, pairs of adjustable complementary and coacting Wedge members 39, 40 are provided, said wedge members extending transversely between the outer edges-of the door jambsections II, I2 and the studding, 8. Any desired number of pairs of wedge members 39, 40 may be employed, but preferably, as indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, a single pair of the Wedge members will be located at the top edge of the jamb sections, and two-pairs..of.wedges at the sides thereof, the latter, as shown, being positioned at the upper and lower portionsof. the door frame opposite the hinges 38. The pairs of wedge members 39, 49, which are similar in construction, each comprise two elongated rectangular shaped blocks or strips each having a-longitudinally extending in clined sideface; the'inclined side faces of the wedge blocks or -stripsdesignated, respectively, 38 and' it 'slidably fitting-one against the other so that said" Wedge members, when moved longitudinally one on the other; will be forced outwardly relative to each other. The'wedge member 39 is provided with' acentral longitudinal aligning rib M to' cooperate'with" alongitudinally extending aligning groove in the companion wedge member 40. The -wedge member 39 is provided on its'rear face with a-transversely extending projecting'part 43adaptedto fit at one side against the-inner'edge face of the vertical side strip I3'or top strip-M 'of'the jamb section I I, the wedge member of each of the faces of wedge members being permanently secured to the side strips I3; I3'or-top strip I4 of the jamb section II bynails-orthe-like- 46, at the mill.

When the door frames are'applied to the wall opening the -jamb" section II is first entered into one side 'of'the-opening-r The companionmembers 40' of'the' pairs'of wedges are then engaged with the Wedge members 39 that are carried by the jamb section- I I and-slipped inwardly until the wedge membersw' fit snugly against the adjacent studding; Whenthis has been done, if the wedgemembers'lo at'their outer ends project beyond the adjacent ends of the wedge members 39, the projecting 'portion is sawed off flush with the outer endof the wedge members 39. The wedge members 39, 40 are secured at their inner end portions to each other-and the wedge members and the jamb'section' I I are secured to the studdingby nails'flpiercing these parts. After this has been done theother 'jamb section I2 is inserted in the opening and finally this jamb section is secured to the wedges and to the studding by nails 41a or the like driven into this jamb section from the faces thereof that willbe farthest from the wall of the opening in the wall.

The facings I8 are secured to'the studding 8 by nails or likefastening members 50.

I claim:

1. A prefabricateddoor'frame'adapted to be inserted in anopening in'awall, said door frame including a jamb'structure comprising two longitudinal sections, each'section' composed of side strips and a top strip, the top strip being secured at its ends to the upper ends of the side strips, means for connecting the sections together including a longitudinal groove in the inner edge of each jamb section thus forming a pair of lateral- 1y spaced tongues, intermediate longitudinal side and transverse top strip members interposed lengthwise bet-,ween'the'sideandtop strips respectively of the jamb sections and each having a longitudinal groove in each edge thereof thus forming a pair of laterally spaced tongues, the tongues of each of the intermediate strip members that will be nearest the wall of the opening when the frame is applied thereto being adapted to fit into the grooves in the inner edges of the jamb sections, and the tongues of the jamb sections that will be farthest from the wall of the opening being formed to fit into the longitudinal grooves in the edges of the intermediate strip members, the tongues on one edge of the intermediate strip members that will be farthest from the wall of the opening forming a door stop, fastening members extending transversely of one of the jamb sections intermediate the edges thereof permanently securing the tongues on one edge of the intermediate strip members to the tongues on one of the jamb sections for movement of the intermediate strip members with said last mentioned jamb section into position into a Wall opening, fastening members for securing the tongues of the other j amb section to the tongues on the adjoining edges of the intermediate strip members, and facings secured at the outer edges of the jamb sections.

2. A prefabricated door frame of the construction defined in claim 1 and which includes a door hung by hinges on one of the jamb sections.

3. A prefabricated door frame of the construction defined in claim 1 in which the transverse top strip of each of the jamb sections is disposed between the upper ends of the side strips, and wherein the intermediate transverse top strip is of a length corresponding to the length of the transverse top strip of each of the jamb sections, the intermediate side strips eac'h terminating at its upper end adjacent the plane of that face of the intermediate transverse top stripthat will be farthest from the wall of the opening in the wall.

4. A prefabricated door frame of the construction defined in claim 1 and which includes means for holding the door frame in position relative to the studding of the wall opening, said means comprising a plurality of pairs of cooperating elongated generally rectangular shaped wedge members disposed between the outer side edges of the jamb sections and the tudding of the wall opening, each of the wedge members having a longitudinally extending inclined face, the pair of wedge members being arranged with their inclined faces disposed opposite each other and slidably fitting one against the other so that when one of the wedge members is moved longitudinally on the companion wedge member, said members will be forced laterally relative to each other, and means for permanently securing the pairs of wedge members to the jamb sections.

5. A prefabricated door frame of the construction defined in claim 4 and in which one of the wedge members of each pair is provided on its rear face with a transversely extending projecting part to abut against the inner edge face of one of the jamb sections and 1imit lateral movement of said wedge member in one direction relative to said jamb section.

6. A prefabricated door frame of the construction defined in claim 4 and wherein one of the wedge members of each pair is provided with a longitudinally extending groove in its inclined face, and the companion wedge member has a longitudinally extending rib projecting from its inclined face to slidably engage the groove in the companion wedge member to maintain the wedge members against relative lateral displacement.

7. A prefabricated door frame of the construction defined in claim 1 and in which the depth of the grooves in the inner edges of the strips of one of the jamb sections and the grooves in the adjacent edges of the intermediate strip membars are such as to provide for lateral adjustment of one jamb section toward and from the other.

LAWSON L. LESTER, JR.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 385,233 Boda June 26, 1888 593,435 Roe hr Nov, 9, 1897 1,677,058 Stein July 10, 1928 1,855,470 Bilton Apr. 26, 1932 1,926,673 Gregg Sept. 12, 1933 2,185,650 Shipway et al. Jan. 2, 1940 2,293,648 Horn Aug. 18, 1942 2,309,452 Hasenburger et a1. Jan. 26, 1943 2,489,029 Guerrant Nov. 22, 1949 

